DCSC launches into student leadership program

School board financially supports ‘The Leader in Me’

By Debbie Lowe

Staff writer

DCMS Robotics Team Middle School Robotics students provided a live demonstration in the board room during Monday night’s school board meeting. The group, called “DOBots,” means “Delphi Oracles Robots.” The students said they raised money to help pay for the materials and supplies to build and manage the robot. They said students from the West Lafayette School Corporation helped them with the robot during a recent contest, noting, although there is a contest between teams, the teams also help each other succeed when they compete. Comet photo The Delphi Community School Board heard a lengthy presentation Monday night from administrators and students in the Elementary and Middle schools about the virtues of using concepts in Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People.” Covey’s book comprises the basis for “The Leader in Me” program, which was referred to as a “culture changing” experience for the school. Administrators reported they have been incorporating the concepts of the Covey book into the school day to prepare for the new program.

The school corporation received a $30,000, two-year planning grant from the Lilly Foundation and will apply for another grant to support the program. Administrators said they are “ready to start” the program in August, however funds have not been secured. It was noted the new program may help the corporation to retain and acquire new staff and will help to market the school corporation. According to a handout, the cost per year for the four-year program is $32,350.99 for the first year, $24,261.05 for the second year, $24,261.05 for the third year and $21,411.05 for the fourth year. An “ongoing membership” will cost an additional $15,000 per year for both schools involved in the program. Some funds for the first year have been obtained.

Board member Kirk Swartzkopf made a motion to provide up to $30,000, this year, from the Rainy Day Fund if needed. Board members were advised there was $509,000 in the Rainy Day Fund at the end of 2017. Board President Steve Myer declared the motion dead after there was no second. However, Chris Nipple then said he would provide the second if no one else was going to do that. The motion was approved unanimously.

Other business

Summer school courses were approved “as presented.” No information was shared about the courses offered.

Board member Bill Trueblood moved to “approve the consent items as presented, items 4 a, b and c.” The motion was approved unanimously. According to the agenda for the meeting, the “consent items” included claims and payroll for December and January, maternity leaves/resignations, field trips, employment of noncertified staff and employment of certified staff.

Changes to the NEOLA policies were also approved unanimously. Superintendent Greg Briles read the changes by their organizational numbers however no content was discussed. Myer suggested the motion to be “approve the updates as presented” and Trueblood said, “So moved.” A second to the motion was provided and the motion was approved unanimously.

Corporation goals were also approved. They were read out loud and state the DCSC shall establish goals for expenditure categories for the 2018 fiscal year, DCSC shall maintain or increase the current levels of student instructional/support expenditure categories versus overhead/operational expenditure categories and nonoperational expenditure category as described in IC20-42.5-3-6.